This edition of Top of the Pops from the 16th of April 1992 will not be shown on BBC4 becasue of Adrian Rose. So a huge thanks goes to Anonymous for making it available here at WeTransfer.
16-4-92: Presenters: Adrian Rose & Claudia Simon
(21) SWING OUT SISTER – Am I The Same Girl
(7) SL2 feat. JAH SCREECHY – On A Ragga Tip
(NEW) MICHAEL BALL – One Step Out Of Time
(12) TEN SHARP – You
(10) ZZ TOP – Viva Las Vegas (video)
(22) BRAND NEW HEAVIES – Never Stop
(14) THE WEDDING PRESENT – Silver Shorts (video) (Breakers)
(20) MARIAH CAREY – Make It Happen (video) (Breakers)
(24) GENESIS – Hold On My Heart (video) (Breakers)
(26) L7 – Pretend We’re Dead (video) (Breakers)
(NEW) KYLIE MINOGUE – Finer Feelings
(1) RIGHT SAID FRED – Deeply Dippy
23rd of April is next
SL2 - I remember really liking this one on the radio at the time, and thinking it was their only single, as I hadn't noticed their prior debut single DJ's Take Control getting up as high as No.11 a few months earlier. However, I didn't enjoy this TOTP live performance, as it felt different to the original single with live rapping that was not on the 7-inch record.
ReplyDeleteMichael Ball - don't remember this one but I remember the following year when he appeared on GMTV with Loraine interviewing him alongside guest presenter Meat Loaf with her on the sofa, and seeing the three of them having a whale of a time, with Meat presenting Ball with a Gold Disc for his services to music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvDP1ddUz3s
ZZ Top - joint most successful single of theirs in the UK with Gimme All Your Loving, both reaching a high of No.10. This video for Viva Las Vegas had inklings of those early Eliminator album videos of the 1984/85 era, especially at the instrumental break when the three girls who come on. A throwback to early ZZ Top. Brilliant stuff!
Kylie Minogue - with this new TOTP format since the revamp, there was a frequent occurrence of a performer doing a new exclusive in the studio when outside of the charts, and then appearing the following week as a Breaker, when traditionally The Breakers was the first appearance before coming on the following week on the show. This week Kylie in the studio, and then next show as one of The Beakers!
Right Said Fred - First time I think that TOTP aired the audience singing along to the song which was unusual for the show to allow audience audio in place of the normal ailing and clapping that we were always accustomed to. It didn't come off well at all!
I thought the audience participation with Freds working quite well as it suited the party atmosphere of the song. Each to their own.
DeleteThere you go, Swing Out Sister had a hit in the 90s, and naturally it was with an inoffensive cover version that was never going to set the world aflame. No idea what's going on with Corrine's hair.
ReplyDeleteSL2, I liked this at the time, but agree with Dory it was much better on record, I suppose they had to punch it up for a live performance. However, they don't quite pull it off. Kudos for featuring an overweight dancer, though: inclusivity!
I seem to remember Michael Ball did quite well with this tune at Eurovision, but it's terminally dull, with no real hook. Can't work out whether he's wearing jacket and jeans or not, either.
Ten Sharp with a slice of qualiddy pop, committing the sins of featuring faux American accented lyrics like "Bah mah sahd" and "On mah mahnd". OK for middle of the road business, but I'm not surprised they faded again. Also: double denim on the singer. I believe the Americans call it a Canadian tuxedo.
On video with an Elvis Presley cover from the film Honeymoon in Vegas (but no clips from that to be seen) are ZZ Top. It's not a bad cover, they don't quite make it their own, though. The Elvis looky-likey looks more like Nathan from Brother Beyond.
Smooth sound as ever from The Brand New Heavies and as before, N'Dea steals the show. Just as well she's so charismatic, as the song is pretty limp, going through the motions material.
Breakers: I bet they never had L7 on TOTP after what they did on The Word! Must have scuppered their chances across UK TV, in fact.
Kylie Minogue referencing Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing on this single, but this is nowhere near as memorable, even as she slows it down and tries to sound sultry. She was never totally convincing doing that, and certainly isn't here.
Wrong Said Fred get the audience waving along to their first and only No.1, defeating Shakespears Sister in a way they couldn't with Bryan Adams. Thanks to Anonymous!
if the beeb had let L7 onto TOTP after their appearance on the word, they might have got caught with their pants down!
DeleteWell, that's a far more delicate way of putting it than L7 would have said...
DeleteFour songs at peak this week outside the Top 30 for previous chart regulars, with no TOTP for them this time:
ReplyDeleteNo.33 XTC - The Disappointed
First Top 40 hit for 10 years since 1982 with Senses Working Overtime, and considering that in the 10 years in between, they released only four singles, none of which made the Top 40, it was a case of welcome back, but had they gone up the following week, we may well have seen their return to TOTP now in 1992.
No.50 Jody Watley - ex-Shalamar babe now well into her solo career since 1987, had not been in the Top 40 since 1989, she continued sporadically through the 90s with little success.
No.52 Howard Jones - Lift Me Up
Jones was last in the Top 40 in 1986, and despite four singles since then all failing to make the Top 40, this was to be his final single, as the curtain comes down on a singles catalogue for Jones stretching back to 1983 with New Song.
No.53 The Soup Dragons - Divine Thing
First single in a year-and-a-half since Mother Universe got to No.26 in 1990, this was also to be their last ever single, in what was a singles catalogue stretching back to 1987, although they only arrived as a Top 40 group for the first time in 1990 with I'm Free.
Thanks for this edition, Anonymous, and good thinking to get one of the upcoming missing editions lined up now so we’ll only have three to critique again later this week instead of four.
ReplyDeleteI’ll probably be very late to the party this / next week, as I’m 60 on Saturday and I’m staging a mini-festival on the day during which I’m playing my first solo gig for 25 years. I reckon the weekend will be hectic followed by some much needed kip and battery charging!
I bought two singles on this show, first up being Swing Out Sister’s hat doff to Dusty Springfield. SOS are still recording and are more jazz based these days. Corinne probably saw WASP’s fringed Ugg boots and thought “I can up the ante with these strides”.
Now, strangely, “Ragga Tip” is the sort of rap rave I can take. Good vibe.
It’s Eurovision time, with the United Kingdom doing a Cliff / Shadows from the 70’s and going back to choosing an artiste to perform a number of songs from which the public votes for our entry. Michael (Cathy McGowan’s partner for the last 30 years) did very well, finishing as runner-up in the shebang.
A vocal crash, not for the first time. By Claudia into Ten Sharp, the Dutch Double. I’m not a big fan of Europop but liked this a lot. It could actually have won Eurovision itself given a chance.
Second single purchase for ZZ Top’s sort of tribute to Elvis. Love that neon bass. Fun video as standard.
Woah, N’Dea, that’s an outfit and a half, though I’m sure the bra’s meant to be worn inside. Shame the chicken in a basket jazz soul wasn’t as snappy.
Breakers: big yay to The Wedding Present song and video, meh for the then almost flat chested Mariah but at least she wasn’t screeching, Genesiszzzz again and L7 sound like a female Nirvana but I’m not complaining.
Kylie almost gives us a Brand New heavies vibe, but her voice is too thin to suit this type of track. Talking of Kylie, that reminds me, it was announced today that Channel 5 are axeing “Neighbours" in the summer.
A right old singalong for number one, with Richard dressed for bondage karaoke.
Best edition for ages. Such a shame Adrian Ponce prevented it from being broadcast.
Oh, dear God no, another Wacko exclusive next week? That’ll be ten minutes wasted then.
Happy 60th! Where do you play your gig on Saturday?
DeleteIt's in a community centre in my hometown of Ashford, Middlesex. I'm doing three songs as part of a duo then six on my own with a backing CD, followed by three acts who actually know what they're doing! Still trying to fix up a DJ after two mates cried off, one due to not wanting to risk getting Covid indoors and one (confirming he can't do it tonight) due to work stress. Organising the night's been like trying to round up chickens with a fox!
DeletePS - I forgot to say thanks, Dory!
DeleteHappy birthday, Arthur! Hope the gig goes well (I'm sure it will!).
DeleteAs for Neighbours, apparently that might be it over because it relies on UK funding for its budget, so without that - bye. What are the next generation of Aussie actors going to do for work?
Happy "very belated" birthday Arthur. Hope the festival went well
DeleteAfter this performance, Ten Sharp lived up to their name as "You" spent three weeks at number 10.
ReplyDeleteNot a bad episode overall this one, thanks Anonymous as always!
ReplyDeleteSOS - Wad this really their first studio performance? I can't believe they wouldn't have been in for Breakout but I also can't be bothered to check...
SL2 - One of the most memorable hits of the year. Not the last time the word ragga is going to be heard...
Michael Ball - not in the charts etc etc. I love how he has always looked middle-aged. Kind of has a touch of the Nicky Campbell about him here, too.
Ten Sharp - I always has a soft spot for this one, cheesy as it is.
ZZ Top - another cheesy classic.
BNH - Pleasant but forgettable.
Breakers - Genesis, despite already being previewed (a weird trend lately, as Dory noted), better in snippets than in full though. Wedding Present with another perfectly alright track and the clear highlight is L7 though obviously we were never getting a studio performance as everyone's pointed out.
Kylie. Ah. I don't approve of previews. But I love Kylie. Dilemma. Anyway, Finer Feelings seems to be one of those back be catalogue singles she doesn't like much as it often gets missed off complications and she doesn't perform it very often. It's not terrible but also nowhere near her best. Confide in Me will eventually hit the vibe this was trying for.
RSF - I think I'm the only one here with a soft spot for them (nb their first three singles only and definitely not their social media) and it's nice they finally got to the top after I'm Too Sexy was Bryan Adamsed.
I'm pretty sure SOS were in the studio back in the 80s for Breakout and Surrender, yeah.
Delete6/11/86 and 20/11/86 for Breakout, 8/1/87 for Surrender and 11/5/89 for You On My Mind.
DeleteIt's old floppy fringe this week so thanks Anonymous for the contraband.
ReplyDeleteA nice radio friendly number from Swing Out Sister to open the show. I miss the old hairstyle. This is a decent tune. Liking this.
Hello Claudia and she's caught Adrian's eye ❤️
Makes a mess of Soul II Soul link as well.
Here we go with a huge summer sound of 1992 from SL2..what a great record and a fantastic parry tune. Even Princess Leia has turned up for a bop Crowd love it too. Great stuff.
Michael Ball goes Pop for Eurovision. What else is there to say other than he does fairly well in Sweden finishing Second to Ireland. Maybe we should ask him again.
Now this is one of my favourite 90s tunes from Ten Sharp. One hit wonders.. know nothing about them. Just a great song.
And this is how you cover Elvis.Viva ZZTOP with a truly stunning record..fab video as well. Adore this…
The not so brand new Heavies are back with another nice but instantly forgettable number.
Breakers:
Wedding Present Take 4. Still sounding the same.
Mariah: Soulful but dull.
Genesis: nice song..dull video
L7: Fantastic stuff. Really liked this for some reason..well.worth checking out their appearance on The Word (on YouTube) but a warning, some nudity awaits.
A sign of things to come from Kylie and a superb almost (last) hurrah from SAW Kylie. Fantastic! The hair is a bif Charlene though.
Back in leather its The Freds at Number One and the crowd are singing along this week. A very good performance.
I'm off to explore my finer feelings..